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Jamestown man takes plea in slaying of friend

A Jamestown man arrested in the murder of a friend a year ago pleaded "not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect," the Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick E. Swanson announced Friday.

Brian Korzeniewski, 52, had been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Michael Bull. Police found Bull's body in a driveway on 6th Street on Aug. 19, 2017, and arrested Korzeniewski the same day.

Two forensic psychiatrists reached the same conclusion that Korzeniewski didn't have the capacity under state law to "appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions," Swanson's office said in a statement. Korzeniewski will be committed to the state Department of Mental Hygiene where he'll be examined by two more psychiatrists who will submit reports to the county court which will determine where he will be confined and how long he'll remain there.

“This case is such a tragic case," Swanson said in the statement. "The defendant and the victim were friends. I believe with proper care and treatment that this killing was completely avoidable... It was evident at the onset of this case that he was suffering from some sort of serious debilitating condition. I anticipate that Mr. Korzeniewski will be placed in the custody of New York State Department of Mental Hygiene where they will ensure he can never hurt anyone again.”

Maki Becker – Maki Becker has been a staff reporter at The Buffalo News since 2005. Before that, she worked at the New York Daily News and the Charlotte Observer.